On Tuesday, April 16, author Theresa Weir — who also has written best-selling thrillers under the name Anne Frasier — will speak at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Hopkins on her award-winning memoir, “The Orchard.”

The book tells the tale of a young woman who makes a difficult marriage into a farm family. It was a best-seller and an Oprah Book Club selection.

Weir’s 7 p.m. talk will be followed by questions and a book sale and signing. The talk is in the church’s Fireside Gallery at 715 Minnetonka Mills Road.

For more information, go to www.glconline.org or phone the church office at 952-935-1753.

GOLDEN VALLEY

Bridge Builders spring event is April 20

Golden Valley citizens and organizations that serve the community are encouraged to participate in the spring Bridge Builders event set for Saturday, April 20, from 10 a.m.-noon at the Minnesota Department of Transportation, 2055 N. Lilac Drive.

Bridge Builders is a citizen-led volunteer organization of local individuals, members of community organizations and business people who want to connect with others to improve the Golden Valley with new ideas, partnerships and small projects and activities.

At this meeting, topics include a discussion on the purpose, power and organizational structure of Bridge Builders. There will also be an appeal to community members to serve as ambassadors and volunteers for the May 18 Golden Valley Days Art and Music Festival. The event will conclude with a tour of the Minnesota Department of Transportation facility.

A class to help you learn the capabilities of iPhones will be offered at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 16, by the St. Louis Park senior program.

Learn to download applications, how to organize them, how to use the camera and e-mail pictures, and more. The instructor will be Andrea Lee, an adult community education teacher, who will also answer questions you may have and provide one-on-one assistance.

For more information, call 952-928-6444.

CHANHASSEN

Author to appear in Arts in April series

Author Frederick Blanch will appear at the Chaska Library at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 13, to discuss his book, “Last Words,” which was nominated for a Minnesota Book Award.

The Chaska Library is located at 3 City Hall Plaza in Chaska. Call 952-448-3886 for more information.

The appearance is part of the Arts in April series funded by Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, also known as the Legacy Amendment.

EDINA

Police focus on failure to use headlights

As part of its effort to emphasize enforcement of basic safety each month this year, Edina patrol officers will be watching for drivers who fail to display their headlights during April.

State law requires all vehicles to display headlights anytime visibility may be impaired by rain or snow, smoke, fog or other conditions. Police will issue warnings to violators, with possible citations in extenuating circumstances.

For more information, contact Edina police at 952-826-1610.

Environment is subject of city forum

The city of Edina’s Energy & Environment Commission will host a session on “What’s Up With the Weather?” on Thursday, April 18, from 7-8:30 p.m. at Edina High School.

The event will begin with a resource fair at 6 p.m. at the school’s Fick Auditorium. Xcel Energy, CenterPoint Energy and the Center for Energy and Environment will have information on reducing energy consumption and saving money, and the Energy & Environment Commission will have information on its sustainability efforts.

For more information, call Ross Bintner at 952-903-5713 or visit www.EdinaMN.gov.

CHASKA

Knowledge bowl to benefit student

Registration is open until April 17 for a knowledge bowl fundraiser organized by Chaska High School senior Mark Meier to benefit friend Tommy Costello, who has been battling cancer for the last year.

The event will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. May 4 at Chaska High School. Students or adults interested in forming teams of five to compete in the knowlege bowl can contact Mark at marqueis.tennis.14@gmail.com to register before April 17. It costs $10 per person to register for teams of up to five people.

There will be five oral rounds with 45 questions per round, a silent auction and pizzas available for $12 each. All money raised will go to a fund split up to support the Costello family’s medical bills and a charity of their choice.

MINNETONKA

Independence Party plans 3rd District annual meeting

The Independence Party of Minnesota 3rd Congressional District will hold its annual meeting and convention on Saturday, April 13, from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Shady Oak Meeting Room of the Minnetonka Community Center, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd.

Everyone is invited. For more information, call 952-201-0982 or e-mail Gary Satnan at garysatnan@yahoo.com.

PLYMOUTH

City offers grants for landscaping

The city of Plymouth is offering grants to promote landscaping strategies that reduce irrigation and storm water runoff. The deadline to apply is April 26.

Property owners, community associations, businesses, schools, non-profits and other community organizations are eligible to apply for the grants. Up to $500 may be awarded for eligible projects. The total amount available in 2013 is $5,000.

Activities include replacing portions of a lawn with plants that require less irrigation, fertilizer or chemicals; reducing impervious surfaces through plantings, pervious pavers or other means; increasing native plants; installing a rain garden; creating a buffer area of native plants near a lake, wetland or creek; conserving water through the use of moisture sensors on irrigation systems, rain barrels, xeriscape or other water conservation techniques.

The Golden Valley Rotary Club’s 2013 FUNdraiser will take place at 6 p.m. May 3 at the Golden Valley Golf and Country Club, helping to raise money for scholarships to local students and teachers in Robbinsdale and Hopkins.

The “Songs for Scholarships” event, which will take place at the country club at 7001 Golden Valley Road in Golden Valley, will include a live auction, raffle and entertainment by the Optimum Trajectory Jazz Quintet.

Money raised at past events has benefited students and teachers at Robbinsdale Armstrong High School, but this year the Rotary club is expanding the scholarship program to include Hopkins High School because the school district also overlaps with half of the city.

Early bird tickets at discount rates are available through Monday, April 15. Tickets cost $60 or $550 for a table of 10 people. After April 16, ticket costs increase to $65. Order tickets online at www.GoldenValleyRotary.org or contact Chad Boger at drchad@bogerdental.com or 763-370-9387.